Explore the chills and thrills of the 10th Annual Iceberg Festival

By Cynthia McMurray on May 17, 2018

The arrival of icebergs is a sure sign spring has arrived on The Rock. These iconic, and in some cases, truly massive “chunks” of ice, begin their annual arrival from Greenland in late May and early June along the Newfoundland coast, and between March and July along the Labrador shoreline. As they make their way through Iceberg Alley, a stretch of the coastline that spans from the coast of Labrador to the southeast coast of Newfoundland, these 10,000-year-old glacial wonders slowly melt as they meet warmer air, often forming breathtaking water pools known as melt ponds that begin to trickle through the ‘berg” and widen any cracks.

The average Grand Banks-area iceberg weighs between 100,000 and 200,000 tonnes and is about the size of a cubic 15-story building! The ice is actually 10 per cent as strong as concrete, but it can do some serious damage to a passing ship, as they can literally generate hundreds of tonnes of force on its hull. Interestingly, while what you can see of an iceberg above the water may appear enormous, almost 90 per cent of the actual berg is under water — “tip of the iceberg.” To give you an idea of the actual size of a particular iceberg, underwater, its width is 20 to 30 per cent larger than what you can see above water, and its depth (draught), is just slightly less than its length above water.

Visitors come from around the world every year to witness these spectacular phenomena and take in the yearly festival, which is June 1 to 10 this year, and will be held at various locations across the province. Among the many events planned for the 10th Annual Iceberg Festival, attendees can ‘chill with the bergs’ during an exhilarating Polar Dip at the Raleigh Historical Wharf. Experience an interactive Viking Feast in the only sod-covered restaurant in North America. How about a Cajun lobster boil, or a traditional Newfie Scoff, featuring Newfoundland food, live music and ‘screech ins,’ for those who want to become an honourary Newfoundlander?

The 10-day festival promises to showcase the best of the province’s unique culture through an exciting lineup of music, history, food, and, of course, the star of the show — icebergs, which can range in size, shape and even colour.

While the Iceberg Festival is a must-attend event, the icebergs can be seen throughout the season. Starting from the north, moving south, some of the best places to see these giants from the shoreline, or for a more up-close and personal look, on a tour boat or in a kayak, are: St. Lewis, Battle Harbour, Red Bay, Point Amour, St. Anthony, La Scie, Twillingate, Fogo Island, Change Islands, Bonavista, St. John’s/Cape Spear and Bay Bulls/Witless Bay, all of which are accessible by road.

You can also track the icebergs in real time on Icebergfinder.com to ensure you make the most of the season that typically ends the first week of August around St. Anthony, when the bergs have melted into smaller pieces, also known as ‘bergy bits,’ which are actually the size of a small house, and ‘growlers,’ that are piano-sized.